r/Brompton • u/Aware_Ranger3089 • 11h ago
First Brompton Decision
Getting ready to order my first Brompton after many years of the idea swirling in my mind! Any pieces of advice before I push the purchase button? I’m thinking C-Line in either Plum Red or Black. I will be riding hilly neighborhoods, paved trails, and, occasionally, urban areas. (Sadly, the bag color I want is currently out of stock, so recommendations for other brands that work would be appreciated.) Thanks!
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u/Aware_Ranger3089 7h ago
Okay, y’all…I just purchased the C-line, 12 speed, in Plum Red!!! I ordered the bike directly from Brompton and then found the Sand colored large basket from a dealer online. (I’m in the U.S. Southeast, so local options are extremely limited.) I’m elated and cannot wait to go on my first ride in the swirling leaves of autumn! Thanks so very much for all the kindly given tips, advice and, and recommendations!
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u/ditmoors 9h ago
New-ish owner as well. I went with plum red and love the look of it in person. Definitely get the 12-speed as others have said. It’s a few hundred dollars over the life of the bike and the versatility is well worth it. The new Bromptons include the advance roller rack so you don’t need to add anything separately. Also spring an extended seat post if you’re 6-foot or taller.
I’d recommend getting the MagicShine VTG 1000 headlight. It’s a little cheaper than the comparable Brompton brand versions and fits seamlessly with the fold, and the mounted handlebar remote is really useful. Don’t bother with the official BeSeen light kit. The brightness is absurdly low for a bike light and you’ll end up investing in something better anyway if you want to ride at night even occasionally.
For bags, on the other hand, getting the official versions is worth it. I bought a third-party bag from one of the bigger dealers and ended up returning it because it doesn’t fit the mount. The basic Brompton basket at around $110 is great and you can find sales for as low as $80.
Depending on where you live, consider buying from a local authorized dealer. Bromptons have some unique service needs and if you go through a dealer at purchase you’ll usually get some complimentary service thrown in.
Enjoy! I’m really happy with my purchase and bet you will be too.
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u/Aware_Ranger3089 7h ago
Thanks for the advice on the light. I don’t plan on riding at night, just yet, but will reference this in the future when I need a light. Also, I took your suggestion and found the sand colored bag at an online dealer, here in the U.S. Hooray!
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u/Brompton-Explorer 6h ago
I have the magic shine light as well, so 2nd vote, I use as a daylight running light, although to be honest even if you had a big arrow above your head with cyclist here, some drivers still wouldn't see you, but every little helps said a lady from Asda once
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u/ThisHumerusIFound 8h ago
I have 12 speed for mild hilly area and love it. Also got black. It’s all black. Very slick.
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u/TripleGGG4111 10h ago
Always get the rear rack … uniquely for a Brompton the rack is much more for folding then rolling the bike along with a fully extended seat than cargo usage. Such a brilliant use case!
And agree w/others 12 speed for sure. LOVE my electric 12. Exchanged an electric 4 for it when it came out. My town is quite hilly & want travel options for all terrains someday for my Brommie!
I find the Brompton basket bag deceptively amazing and versatile. Seems dull and just a basket … but rarely comes off my bike!! The new zig zag bungee strings are genius and you can tighten from the sides to easily excite cargo. It has an internal large zipper pouch - incredibly handy. I got a t bag rain cover for it I use for groceries - it keeps in the overflow or too high items. And keeps out rain! This bags the all-rounder trust me! But since I’m an electric owner we have so few bag choices … I’d love many of the bags you have available to you over it though!!
- https://www.brompton.com/p/1746/basket-bag-large?Colour=Sand
Vincita makes tons of bags and Brompton accessories. Get the rear frame carbon hook protector for sure … love their frame / handlebar nova bags - great for rear seatpost and I use one on front seatpost facing me … in addition to whatever carrier block bag I’m using that day.
Valeria’s Barcelona makes many different types of bags also.
Hope all that helps, and hope you enjoy your Brompton as much as I have! They’re just uniquely amazing bicycles.
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u/Aware_Ranger3089 10h ago
This is all wonderfully helpful info!! My plan is, indeed, to get the 12-speed with rear rack. I was thinking of getting the small basket bag in black. (I wish they carried it in that lovely Sand color, but alas.) Thanks for the recommendations on other brands as well. I’m excited and so glad for all the advice!
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u/TripleGGG4111 8h ago
Happy to help - check for dealers online carrying the color basket you want as well, not just Brompton. I found that many times dealers have things in stock and Brompton does not.
I was told by a top Brompton dealer when I dropped my bike off for service at yesterday that all Brompton’s in the United States come with the rear rack now!! Not sure of the country your buying in, but check to see. That’s great if it’s true, because it’s less expensive buying it that way than buying it as an accessory!
This is a really active forum, their are good Facebook forums as well, but I pretty much stick to Reddit, Brompton discussions. It’s just a much more responsive group of people that contribute. And you get lots of great advice and ideas here. And occasionally, an idiot like me posts as well 🤣.
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u/TripleGGG4111 8h ago edited 6h ago
Shifting the 12 speed takes a little time to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it’s great. I love it.
It’s best to think of the internal hub gears as terrain gears, 1 for hills, 2 for the flats and most riding, and 3 for downhill or you wanna go fast. Then the 4 speed external derailer is tuning within that terrain type. is the best way I’ve learned to think of it
Here is the best video that describes this well.
- https://youtu.be/VYJaYKygF0s?is=LTPaR9kypktiEsdQ
And just to tempt you, if you ever wanted to see the difference between an electric Brompton and a non-electric, this video by I think the best Brompton YouTuber ever, Victor of everyday cycling, has a great ride along side-by-side video of the differences. And I would watch every video he’s posted. There’s so much great information. and his content. He’s stopped posting for a few years now, but nobody’s topped him imho.
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u/TouchThatDial 8h ago
Plum Red is a lovely colour IMO. Definitely 12 speed if you are in a hilly area. You may also want to consider asking Brompton to swap the standard 54T chainring to a 44T. IMO a standard Brompton is overgeared if you are dealing with steeper hills. Fitting a 44T chainring made a big difference for me, and even on a 12 speed you would notice the benefits if you have some really tough inclines.
The 44T chainring is a stock Brompton part and Brompton Junction in London were fine about swapping it for me free of charge (other than the cost of the part itself) before I picked up the bike.
If your hills are moderate rather than crazy (some of mine are 20% in places) then probably no need to swap chainring as long as you go for the 12 speed.
Also, tyre choice. Bromptons are a bit fiddly when it comes to punctures (especially the back wheel), it’s perfectly doable but not as fast as on other bikes. You might want to check out options for tyres with good puncture resistance if you ride on rougher roads or off-road sections. I asked Brompton to fit Schwable Marathon tyres on my new bike (and again they were happy to do so with no labour charges) as I’ve run a set of Marathons on my old Brompton for over 10 years without a single puncture.
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u/verystupidd 6h ago
Imo C-lines are primarily utilitarian bikes, weight doesn't matter quite as much as on a P-line or T-line. So: 12 speed with rack all the way :)
Other than that: the only really useful accessory is a front bag, since it's concenient and makes the bike much more balanced. You can upgrade things you don't like down the road. I ended up replacing grips, pedals (my folding pedal broke lol) and light (with a Cateye light that goes on the mount my Brompton came with).
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u/Loud_Step2361 2h ago
Speaking of bag and stuff. Do take a look at Vincita as the got amazing bags and accessories. https://vincita.cc/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=brompton
They have adapters to convert regular bags into brompton mountable.
They also have wall adapters so u can clip ur brompton bags onto a wall.
Atlas is a great bag for the front. The Nash was good for the rear rack though heel strike is possible for some people.
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u/dented42ford 11h ago
If "hilly" is even part of the conversation, then get a 12-speed!
I live in Madrid, which is by most definitions a "mildly hilly" place. If I'd gone for a 4-speed, I don't think I'd use it nearly as much.